DREAM BUILDERS OF AMERICA’S YOUTH INC. AND THE AUGUSTA CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ATTORNEYS (ACAAA)

2017 JUDGE JOHN “JACK” RUFFIN, Jr. TRAILBLAZER SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST

In honor of Judge John “Jack” Ruffin Jr., Dream Builders and the ACAAA are sponsoring their seventh annual Judge John H. Ruffin Trailblazer Scholarship Essay Contest. The essay contest is for graduating college-bound seniors only throughout the CSRA.

This year the students must address the questions listed below, based upon actual research, about the trailblazer Willie Mays, III relating to the ABA Law Day Theme 14th Amendment Transforming American Democracy.   In addition to the research based essay, students should submit a personal statement.   A minimum award of $1000.00 each will be given to one male and one female high school senior, and one female and one male participant in the Fort Gordon Campus Youth Challenge. The winners will receive their checks at the Law Day Dinner held by the Augusta Bar Association on May 8, 2017.

DUE DATE: May 3, 2017 – Essays must be emailed to DreamPlanAchieve.jeffords@gmail.com by May 3, 2017 or mailed to Dream Builders at 437 Walker Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901. If mailed, the essay must be received by May 3, 2017.

DATE FOR AWARD: The winner will receive notification by May 6, 2017 and will receive checks at the Law Day Dinner on May 8, 2017. The winner must be present at the dinner to receive the award. The minimum $1000.00 award must be used for school related purposes. (i.e., tuition, books, tests, college rent). 

If you have questions, please contact Tanya Jeffords or Estella Mills at 706-722-3019.

PART ONE: ESSAY [PDF FORM]

The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees protections under four main categories: Citizenship, Due Process, Equal Protection, and Incorporation.

In Lawrence v. Texas, decided in 2003, Justice Anthony Kennedy observed: “Had those who drew and ratified the due process clauses of the Fifth Amendment or the Fourteenth Amendment known the components of liberty in its manifold possibilities, they might have been more specific. They did not presume to have this insight. They knew times can blind us to certain truths and later generations can see that laws once thought necessary and proper in fact serve only to oppress. As the Constitution endures, persons in every generation can invoke its principles in their own search for greater freedom.”

Recently, a building housing the Law Office of the Public Defender was named after an Augusta native and community advocate, Willie Mays, III.  Discuss how his accomplishments sought greater freedoms for the citizens of Augusta and under which prong of the 14th Amendment was his work primarily focused.

Essay Requirements: Maximum 4 pages, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font.    Essays and personal statements will be reviewed for content, development of ideas, as well as sentence structure, word choice, and grammar. It is highly recommended that you have your essay reviewed by one of your teachers. Please include that educator’s contact information on the second form attached.

PART TWO: PERSONAL STATEMENT [PDF FORM]

What life experiences helped you develop your educational and professional goals?  How would winning this award help you in your pursuit of achieving them?

Personal Statement Requirements: No less than 1 and no more than 2 pages, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font. Essays and personal statements will be reviewed for content, development of ideas, as well as sentence structure, word choice, and grammar. It is highly recommended that you have your essay reviewed by one of your teachers. Please include that educator’s contact information on the second form attached.

Please complete the next page and submit it with your essay. The information on the 2nd page must be included with your email. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON  YOUR ESSAY.

If you have questions, please contact Tanya Jeffords or Estella Mills at 706-722-3019.

Please download THIS FORM and include with your essay

Posted by Dream Builders on Monday, April 17th, 2017 @ 11:27AM
Categories: News, Scholarship